Olympique Marseille

By: John | 15 Comments

With tonight’s cup final kicking off in roughly half an hour, we have a chance at securing a place in the Europa Cup next fall. While this is not what we were hoping for at the start of the season, the recent poor run has left the season hanging in the balance, and tonight the story will unfold against bitter rivals, Lyon. Read the rest of this entry »

By: John | 6 Comments

The last day of the 1998/1998 season ended with Bordeaux traveling to Paris to try and grab the league title from OM, who were sitting on top of the table. PSG’s defense opened up, allowing Bordeaux to grab a late goal and steal the league title from a deserving OM. Well, now the tables have turned… or somewhat.
Read the rest of this entry »

By: John | 6 Comments

First of all, sorry for the lack of updates. I’ve been swamped with school work this semester and work has been relentless.
So it seems as though things have never been lower in the last few years than they are now. Nkoulu and Mandanda (who have been the only players worth their salt over the last few weeks) have openly stated that the other players have poor attitudes and aren’t doing what they need to do on the training ground and in the dressing room to win.
Let’s hope the boys can resurrect their winning ways this Easter Sunday against the worst of the worst, PSG.
Allez l’OM!

By: Richard | 40 Comments

First off a happy holidays to all OM fans and readers of the Offside! I just want to express for sincerest thanks to all those who read and contribute to this site!
Thought I’d put my xmas list up for Marseille so here goes…

1.) Defensive reinforcements in the transfer window
2.) Success to all our African internationals in the Cup of Nations
3.) Defeating Inter Milan in the Champions League
4.) Lump of coal for PSG
5.) Players out of form hopefully rediscover it
6.) Valbuena continues to kick ass and take names
7.) The people of Marseille stop robbing our players
8.) Taiwo comes back (yeah right)
9.) A better sponsor than BetClic next year
10.) We get back into the top 3 where we belong.

By: Richard | 3 Comments

So our very own Andre Ayew lost out on winning the 2011 CAF player of the year. Out of a near endless pool of talent, Andre made it to the very end of the ballot along with Barcelona’s Seydou Keita and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure who went on to win. That is some serious talent to be among and the very fact that Ander is so young speak volumes as to where he is and where he is going as a footballer. While the trophy eluded him this year, Andre remained upbeat and optimistic towards the future…

“Of course I wanted to be in front with my family and countrymen all here but it did not happen,” he said.

“I am happy to have been considered good enough to be in the top three. To have been here with Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita who play for big clubs is an honor already.

“I am 22 years and a young player so I simply have to keep working hard.”

Well Andre can always take solace in the fact that he won the BBC’s 2011 African footballer of the year not to shabby. Also with the African cup of nations nearing, perhaps some revenge on Toure’s Ivory Coast?

By: Richard | 5 Comments

For as long as Deschamps has been with Marseille the team has been consistently linked with Italian strikers. Undoubtedly the result of DD’s Serie A connections, I’ve always viewed many of these rumors in apathy. Mainly due to the fact that an overwhelming majority of these strikers are either in the twilight of their careers or well past it.

We now draw closer to the transfer window and while its our defense that needs reinforcements, its taking a back seat to a striker. If you’re listening to the transfer talk Gignac is being fancied by Fulham and of course the Ayew brothers will have the African Cup of Nations to attend. So as much as we need to address our defense, our attack is going to be incredibly thin. I just don’t want to see the team sign someone who is obviously over the hill. In the month of December alone we’ve been linked with Diego Milito, Marco Borriello, Pippo Inzaghi, Maxi Lopez, and Amauri. Out of this list the only player I’d be happy with is Maxi Lopez, the rest are far too much of an investment for the team to make at their respective ages. Remember how we were burned with Morientes? You know its a real shame Montpellier are doing so well I’d love to see Giroud or Belhanda play for the club. One can dream…

By: Richard | 4 Comments

Matthieu Valbuena is going to give me a heart attack. His late game Rambo antics have yet again left me without a voice. While today’s win against Lorient was not quite as epic as the late one against Dortmund, it came damn close…. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Richard | 7 Comments

I’m happy with this result for OM, things could have been worse after all. While Inter doesn’t have quite the storied history with Marseille as the Rossoneri, there are some notable events to draw from. The obvious being the UEFA Cup quarterfinals in 2004 when we won both legs 1-0. We’ve also seen the two managers of the respective clubs square off in the past as well. Again in 2004 when Deschamps saw victory with Monaco against Ranieri’s Chelsea in the champions league.

Whats interesting is how in many respects both clubs have been experiencing an identical season. Two giants of their leagues who suffice to say have been under performing in all ares on the pitch. The Champions League at least for the fans has served as sort of a pause from their domestic woes. This certainly isn’t the Inter that hoisted the Champions League trophy back in 2010 but then again we aren’t the Marseille that won the league that year either. Well until February…..

By: Richard | 14 Comments

Growing up I always envisioned having a mythical job in which I did nothing and got paid for it (handsomely might I add). While that fantasy was just that a dream, the reality for many footballers across the world is receiving a salary and essentially never seeing any first team play. This does not mean I’m somehow sticking my nose up to those who are marooned on the bench. On the contrary commitments to practice and continually developing your skills at a top level are nothing to scoff at.
Then there is the case of Julien Rodriguez (who?). You know that guy who came over from Rangers a few years back had a well enough first season then peaced out. Disagree with me if you want but the guy hardly has played and was rarely even on the bench. But you know what at the end of every week JR got that check and laughed straight to the bank. In all this time the man has amassed a small fortune and done well basically nothing. Zero appearances this year and the same goes for last. Get this when Marseille held a meeting with him a while back to talk about basically parting ways, JR whipped out that contract flipped off DD and rode away in his Ferrari presumably running every red light along the way. The party will indeed continue for JR until this year when FINALLY OM will nix him from their expenses. So when ever you hear someone say that famous “there is no free lunch” line you set them straight and school them on the story of JR the man who’s been living the dream in the south of France.

By: Richard | 25 Comments

My voice is gone. But it doesn’t matter we are through! Once I collect my thoughts and get over this adrenaline rush, I’ll come up with something so watch this space. Allez L’OM!